Coronavirus Gold Coast: Surfers Paradise can’t survive border closures much longer

“There will be a lot of business that won’t reopen after this because too much damage has been done.”

THE heart of Gold Coast tourism is dying from Queensland borders remaining shut, according to the business owners in Surfers Paradise.

After Queensland’s Chief Health Officer warned residents the border with NSW might not even be reopened in September, businesses in Surfers Paradise are concerned for their future.

Costa D’Oro Italian Restaurant has recently put on four of its pre-pandemic 22 staffers but won’t be able to hire any more until things change.

The Orchid Ave restaurant co-owner Nuccia Fusco said once the borders reopened and they could sit at least 50 customers, then business would start to get back to normal.

Costa D’oro manager Gene Fusco in an empty Orchid Ave. Picture: Glenn Hampson

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“There will be a lot of business that won’t reopen after this because too much damage has been done,” she said yesterday.

Nicolinis manager Toni Celona said his Surfers Paradise Blvd Italian restaurant was one of those that may not survive.

“We are celebrating our 50th birthday next year but if borders are still closed by September we won’t be able to stay open,” he said.

Next door at Persian restaurant Shiraz owner Erfan Jalilian said trying to monitor only having 10 customers at a time due to COVID-19 regulations was like serving a thousand people under no restrictions.

Beach Cafe customers Adrian David from Benowa and Alexis Michel from Surfers Paradise noticed how quiet it’s been. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“I just think the government should listen to what people who are running these businesses are saying,” he said.

Pineapple Tours relies on business in New South Wales for its winery, brewery and distillery tours and owner Peter Myers said the Gold Coast and northern New South Wales were one community which had been forced to separate.

“I understand stopping people from Sydney travelling this far but I feel like it could have been more lenient to areas closer to the border,” he said.

Adrian David, 25, was one of not many to head to the Surfers Paradise beachfront for lunch yesterday and said since moving to the Gold Coast two years ago he had never seen the area so quiet.

“This used to be really busy with people everywhere but now with no tourists there is no one around,” he said.